Botkins starts scholarships, flip-flops bus stops

January 12, 2012

BOTKINS — Botkins Local Schools Board of Education members elected to accept a $3,960 donation to start a scholarship in memory of a former school district employee.

Becky Grillot, who worked for the district as a librarian and media specialist, also worked as a secretary for the district. She fought cancer for a year before finally losing her battle with the disease Oct. 5 of last year. The money came from contributions in memory of Grillot at services held in Botkins Oct. 10.

Superintendent Connie Schneider said the scholarship would last for 13 years, one for each class that was in school at the time of her death.

Another $500 donation was accepted by board members for a scholarship in the memory of former school board member Julius Greve.

Half the students on bus routes in the district will gain an additional 30 minutes of time in the mornings to get ready for school, while remaining half will lose 30 minutes.

The district reversed pick-up times for the bus routes, a move that was approved unanimously by board members. Students currently picked up at the 7 a.m. time frame will now have until 7:30 a.m., while the students scheduled for 7:30 a.m. now will get on the bus 30 minutes earlier.

Schneider said the move is done each year to even it out.

Board members closed the meeting with an executive session on the purchase of land with no action taken.